HUNTING THE SEA OTTER. 15 



May, while when the September Equinox drew near terrific 

 gales, with their usual accompaniment of fog, swept with 

 relentless fury the rock-bound coasts. The hunting season 

 therefore being necessarily short, every day was precious; 

 and it may be easily understood that, having so far over- 

 come all difficulties and having made a fair start, the 

 prospect of being "brought to" with a round shot across 

 our bows was not an agreeable one, though unfortunately 

 not so improbable as might be imagined. Nor were our 

 suspicions unfounded, as was to be amply demonstrated in 

 the event ; but our time was not yet come, and it was only 

 later on that we were to be subjected to much anxiety, 

 danger, and that which, but for our own resolution, would 

 have resulted in inevitable disaster. 



We had examined this fort and its primitive armament 

 several times during our forced inactivity, and had 

 determined that when we did sail we would keep well over 

 to the farther shore and let them blaze away till tired. As 

 a precaution, however, our consular friends who had come 

 on board to see us off and take a farewell, caused their 

 respective flags to be hoisted in the boats we were towing, 

 as a mild hint that we were under their protection. 

 Nothing happened to interrupt our progress, and as we 

 had now fairly opened the mouth of the harbour, and as 

 some dark clouds had begun to rise with a squally look, 

 the boats in tow were hauled alongside, and, after a parting 

 glass of petroleum champagne, and many a cordial hand- 

 shake, our guests dropped over the side, and with a hearty 

 cheer left us to continue our onward course. 



We were soon round on the other tack and heading 

 straight out, the wind getting lighter every minute, until, 

 as ill-luck would have it, just as we reached what a railway 

 porter once called the " entrance out," it fell a dead calm ; 

 and, with nothing to stem the insetting tide, we drifted 

 steadily back, and finally, about ten o'clock, we were forced 

 to drop anchor under the guns of our objectionable friend 

 (?) the fort. Certainly we might have anchored before 



